Former News International legal manager Tom Crone has been arrested by police investigating phone hacking allegations, Sky sources have said.

The 60-year-old was detained at his home in south west London at 6.45am.

He was held on suspicion of conspiring to intercept communications and is being questioned at a south London police station.

So far 25 people have been arrested in connection with Operation Weeting, the Metropolitan Police's investigation into allegations of phone hacking.

Sky News home affairs correspondent Mark White said of Tom Crone: "He's an important player in this phone hacking debate because he, along with the News Of The World's former editor Colin Myler, have accused (former News International boss) James Murdoch of a cover-up.

"They said they had warned James Murdoch that phone hacking was much more widespread than just one rogue reporter, which was the defence of the NOTW for some considerable time.

"They said they had told James Murdoch about that much earlier than James Murdoch had said publicly and in fact repeated that at a parliamentary select committee."

Meanwhile, former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Monday over charges linked to Operation Weeting.

She is accused of one general charge of conspiracy to illegally access voicemails, and two others relating to murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler and former union boss Andrew Gilchrist.

Seven other people including David Cameron's former spin doctor Andy Coulson appeared at the same court earlier this month to face phone hacking charges.

Ex-News Of The World editor Coulson is accused, along with ex-managing editor Stuart Kuttner, former news editor Greg Miskiw, former head of news Ian Edmondson, ex-chief reporter Neville Thurlbeck and former reporter James Weatherup.